The Saint Nicholas for hire (pictured) was driving to a school when he was pulled over by traffic cops
A man dressed as Santa Claus has been stopped by police in Austria because his fake beard violated the country’s ban on burqas.
The Saint Nicholas impersonator was driving to a school when he was pulled over by traffic cops.
An Austrian officer told him his traditional Father Christmas attire was in breach of a ban on ‘facial coverings’.
Hans M, 35, had to take off his flowing white beard and red frock after being stopped.
The policeman asked him: ‘Don’t you know the ban on wearing face covers?’
The Kris Kringle-for-hire, from the Austrian capital of Vienna, had his car searched for 15 minutes by the policeman.
Hans, who donates his modest earnings from his appearances to a local care home, even had to show the officer his spare pair of glasses.
He explained: ‘I said, I had to go to my next appearance fast, but was told I should not be rude.’
Hans got in touch with the lawyer Erich Gemeiner (pictured), who described the behavior of the policeman as a ‘arrogant chicanery’
Before Hans was eventually allowed to drive off, the officer told him: ‘You will hear from us’.
Hans, whose full name cannot be revealed under strict Austrian privacy laws, feared he was going to get a fine.
So he got in touch with top lawyer Erich Gemeiner, who described the behavior of the policeman as ‘arrogant chicanery’.
The Austrian burka ban, which came into effect at the start of October, means anyone covering their face in public could face a 150 euro (£135) fine.
In the first two weeks after the ban came into effect, Viennese cops dealt with 30 offenders, although only four of them were wearing a burka or niqab.
Viennese Police have defended the traffic cop’s decision to pull over Father Christmas.
A spokesman said: ‘In terms of traffic safety, vehicle controls are a part of it. That applies for Nicholases, too.’
Saint Nicholas, the special children’s saint, is honored throughout Austria with his own feast day, which is recognised each year.
The American Santa Claus and the British Father Christmas derive in part from the character of Saint Nicholas.